Ruddington Restaurant Guide

“A truly world-class restaurant at the top of its game” – Sat & Amanda Bains create a “wonderful and truly memorable experience” for most visitors to their remarkable city-fringe hideaway, which is improbably located down a lane amidst the jumble of pylons, small industrial units, flyovers and concrete banks that announce your near-arrival at this converted motel, by the River Trent, on the outer fringes of Nottingham. In the evening, the choice is between the ‘Prelude’ or ‘Overture’ menus for £199 or £249 per person respectively for a multi-course tasting experience that’s “innovative and complex but richly fulfilling and not faddish”. That’s not to say that absolutely everyone loves it, and this year saw ratings dented a bit by a few more complaints than usual (e.g. “overly rich saucing…”, “unbelievable prices for the style…”). Still more common, however, are converts, such as a repeat visitor who noted “the second visit was even better than the first… if that’s possible… the food was perfection and the service pure class”. Top Tips – “the potato is always a standout”; “the winter offer complete with a stay in one of their rooms is an incredible bargain”.

2022 Review: A “long-standing favourite”, this “brisk and friendly” red-brick late-Victorian boozer serves a “splendid range of beers” and a solid food menu[e]. One great fan and regular, though, feels “the dining room feels utilitarian and a little underwhelming compared to the bar”.

“A staple in the area for vegetarian and vegan options” run by Roya Bishop, who honed her knowledge of Gujarati cuisine at Leeds icon Hansa’s (RIP); finessed her flair alongside no less than Sat Bains; and then struck out on her own here in 2010. The “incredibly creative” food picks and mixes influences from right around the world – Cuba, Persia, Sri Lanka – and the results are “always delicious”.

2024 Review: “Always a real treat to visit” – this well-established local institution is to be found near the castle in the atmospheric surrounds of the seventeenth century Newdigate House (also home to networking haunt the Nottingham Club), and – especially in summer when its terrace comes into its own – provides “a calm escape from the city streets”. Its rather ambitious food has proved “consistently good” over many years (and even “fabulous” on a good night) and reports this year suggest that it has attained a more consistent standard of late.

A tapas veteran that has set a “consistently high standard for many years” in the Lace Market, with a “great variety of lovely dishes” (some with international influences) on its menu. It has a “special atmosphere under its vaulted ceiling” too, which it owes to its intriguing location inside a 15th-century gaol (‘Shire Hall’).

“Excellent burgers in a vibrant environment” have made this Lace Market independent the stuff of local legend. Founder Anmarie Spaziano hails from Rhode Island, where US diner culture first took root, and serves a “great variety” of burgers – including the Lemmy, which comes with Jack Daniels-infused mustard and is named after the late Motörhead leader, who visited in Annie’s early days. An offshoot in Derby closed at the end of 2023.

“As good a biryani as you’ll find” is among the star dishes at this family-run Punjabi specialist, which was founded in 2007. “Monika is a fabulous host” alongside her husband Sunny Anand, whose brother Shelley runs the kitchen.

Amita Sawhney’s “excellent Indian restaurant in the centre of Nottingham” celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and lives up to its reputation as one of the city’s more reliable destinations for a good night out – “the food is reasonable value as well”.

2023 Review: This “simply amazing” and decidedly upmarket Indian (which opened in 2014) recreates the atmosphere of polo clubs under the Raj, with “delicious food” that is “not overpowering”, and “friendly, knowledgeable staff”.

Inspired by Bangkok street-food markets, “with a great atmosphere, authentic Thai cuisine (often with plenty of spice), plus tuk-tuks for good measure” – this “buzzy” and “good-value” chain now has eight branches scattered across northern university towns. It’s a funkier spinoff from founder Ban Kaewkraikhot’s Yorkshire-based Sukhothai group.

Nisha Katona’s Liverpool-based operation has two branches in London (Charlotte Street and Westfield Stratford) offering her “very tasty” Indian street food – “with the occasional hint of raw spice”. The Lancashire-born former barrister launched the business in 2014 and now has 28 outlets around the country, whose “enjoyable, authentic food” is “really great for a chain”.

This Hong Kong-style diner near the Lace Market is “reliably excellent” across its 250-item menu, whose “varied delights” include a selection of fiery Sichuan dishes. Billed as a “Chinese restaurant for the Chinese”, it does a lively trade with Nottingham’s large community of East Asian students.

For “lovely Keralan food in nice surroundings with very pleasant service”, this South Indian with spin-offs in Leicester, Leamington Spa and West Byfleet, is hard to beat – one reporter “even booked a holiday in Kerala on the strength of the food eaten here!” (namely curries, thalis, dosas and the like).

2024 Review: “A Nottingham lunch place of choice” – Corsican Stéphane Luiggi and local wife Louise’s relaxed city-centre Gallic fixture is a real local treasure; they “also do good dinners and speciality evenings” where you can explore a specific region of France through more elaborate six-course dinners with matching wines.

“Consistently top of the list for fine dining in Nottingham” – Alex Bond gives his former boss Sat Bains a good run for his money in this intriguing, subterranean Victorian brick-vaulted space, which sits just outside the centre in the desirable Park Estate, for which it was built as a coach house. All reports attest to a “hugely enjoyable" experience all round – “service is efficient but also with real style and joy de vivre” and the food is “stunning all-round” from either a three-course menu for £85 per person, or a seven-course menu at £140 per person. Top Menu Tip – “seafood and fish offerings are always top notch!”

“Aiming for high-end sophistication”, this first-floor venue in a striking looking property within the canal-side Island Quarter, launched in 2022, with open kitchen and glossy styling. A selection of Day Boat fish and Dry-Aged Steaks headline a short, straightforward menu and it’s recommended by locals as an excellent choice for business. That said, there is also the odd gripe about its pricing, and another reporter feels: “the bar area is lovely”, but “on two occasions now the food service has been slow and food not good”. BREAKING NEWS: In October 2025, Rhubarb Catering were appointed to look after the site, so change may be afoot.

“Always fab” – this Japanese-inspired grill specialist has “gone up another level” since moving to “a smart and crucially bigger venue (which means you can get a table!)” in late 2024 – and “thank goodness, after all the gushing national reviews”, among them a rave from the Telegraph’s William Sitwell in November 2024, who heaped praise on the “lavish mix of flavour-bomb and wit” shown in such dishes as their ‘prawn katsu sando’ (“more significant than Robin Hood”) and ‘tira-miso’ (“which, honestly, knocks any Italian number out of the park”). As one long-distance visitor moaned: “wish this was in London”. Top Menu Tip – “the set lunch is an absolute steal”.